After recognizing the need for certified financial planners specializing in same-sex couples, officials with Wells Fargo approached the College for Financial Planning. In 2010, the designation was established and for now Wells Fargo Advisors has an exclusive on planners who are accredited domestic partner advisors.

Terry Thompkins is one of just six accredited domestic partner advisors in the Dallas area.

“It’s no coincidence the bank’s based in San Francisco,” Thompkins said.

Thompkins first recognized the need when he was working with two widows who chose not to remarry, primarily for pension reasons.

“I quickly realized that here’s a community that’s horribly underserved,” he said.

On Feb. 1, Thompkins is offering a financial planning seminar for same-sex couples. He said he had nothing to sell but is looking for couples that would benefit from working with him.

“I’m looking to establish long-term relationships,” Thompkins said, adding that he is as interested in younger couples beginning to build their wealth as in established couples with multi-million dollar portfolios.

“Anyone who is not recognized by the federal government creates challenges, and nightmare scenarios can develop,” Thompkins said.

That creates tax issues but can also present tax opportunities, he said. Having accounts structured properly as well as having legal paperwork in place can prevent families from challenging wills and estates after a partner dies.

“That’s so important when someone is also dealing with their grief,” Thompkins said.

He said a common problem he faces with couples is when one is an aggressive investor and the other is conservative. In that case, Thompkins must form an investment strategy that allows that two portfolios to work together.

Thompkins said clients do not come to him because they need a stockbroker. He said he has a wide range of investment vehicles from traditional banking products to commodities and futures. “I have a huge pallet available to me,” he said.

He said that for a couple with a small business, he can talk to the bank’s commercial lending group and the small business group.

When those don’t work, he can access tools like collateralizing existing assets.

But he said that shouldn’t scare off couples with fewer assets. He not only wants to help couples make a strong plan stronger. Young couples should get on the right track and build huge wealth down the road.